STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Human rights activists claim five air strikes, likely conducted by Russian and Syrian forces destroyed the sole hospital in Atareb

Air strikes hit two hospitals, wounding numerous patients and medics, in rebel-held territory west of the embattled Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday.

Human rights activists from the British-based war monitor have accused the Russian and Syrian forces of conducting the air strikes which have repeatedly targeted hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure in territory controlled by the rebels.

Medics said the warplanes pounded the town of Atareb overnight and into Monday, knocking the hospital out of service. The aerial attack on the sole hospital in Atareb destroyed operations, waiting rooms and damaged ambulances, according to the Observatory. Warplanes also hit and disabled Ansar hospital in Kafrnaha, 15 km (10 miles) from Atareb,

The five air strikes injured many patients, said Osama Abo Ezz, a general surgeon and Aleppo coordinator for the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), which partially supports the hospital. "They were at the hospital for check-ups," he said.

Both Moscow and Damascus denied carrying out the attacks and said their air campaign is directed against military targets belonging to the rebels.